The Grand Plan

I believe in plans. Plans give my life structure, from my day-to-day lunch plans or time to study for an upcoming exam, to plans for after college graduation or even the infamous “five-year plan.” I have made and fulfilled many plans, like my determination to attend college, study abroad and establish friendships. Yet, most things in my life have not happened exactly as I would have chosen. As I close the chapter on one season of my life, I recognize that not only are my plans not perfect, but that there must be a Plan with a capital P. I know there is One who can seamlessly orchestate the universe, and I see that my life is but a small part of this grand Plan.

And so where am I headed? What is the new Plan? What will I be when I grow up? I have considered attending medical school, and I have even completed most of the requirements, but only recently have I finally recognized what the real plan is. Many circumstances have shown me this new idea. After studying in Ecuador, I see that the world is much bigger than my own narrow plans. In fact, my time there turned my American presumptions upside down as I saw how another culture views the world and became aware of my own critical attitude of the differences. And, I have made many friends in college, yet most of my closest relationships are with people from other countries. You could say that my plans have become more flexible.

I study Spanish and Linguistics, which is the science of language. I believe that there is a world of opportunity awaiting me in the study of language. There are over 6,000 languages in the world, and the people of over 2,000 languages have no written word or Bible in their own language. I believe that every group of people deserves to read the Word of God in their own mother tongue. My new Plan is to become a Bible translator in another country. Not only that, but there is so much need for literacy, which the United Nations recognizes as a catalyst for improved education, health care and standard of living. I believe my gifts uniquely qualify me to serve in this role of translation, and I believe that as my plans have changed, I have learned that I am not the center of the Plan. For the Plan includes all humanity, and as I stand and declare my readiness to follow this calling, I join in the work already being done worldwide to complete God’s Plan. I do not know all the details yet, but that is fine. Any of my meager goals for where I will go or who I will become in the coming years are only wispy shadows of this beautiful new Plan I have finally found. In the meantime, I will continue to organize my spring break trip, for after all, I do believe in plans.

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This week’s essay

Growing up in the former Yugoslavia, lawyer Djenita Pasic enjoyed the peace of her religiously diverse country. But after the fall of communism and the outbreak of the Bosnian War, Pasic was forced to reevaluate her ideas about religion and tolerance. Click here to read her essay.